Fibe-signal and burglar-alarm



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. E. CHURCH;

FIRE SIGNAL AND BURGLAR ALARM. v 8 No. 380,186. Patented Mar.. 27,1888.

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00000000 fade/n" 000000o0 mwwflmmi N. PETERS, Pholo-Llthognpher. Waahillglon. D.C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. CHURCH, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

FIRE-SIGNAL AND BU RG LA R-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forniing part of Letters Patent No. 380,186, dated March 27, I888.

Application filed November 8, 1887. Serial No. 254,584. (N model.) 4

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, J AMES E. CHURCH, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Fire Signals and Burglan Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an alarm which may be quickly and conveniently applied to a door or window or connected with a device that will cause it to be operated to indicate'fire, and that when not in use can be packed away in a small compass, and, if desired, placed in a satchel or traveling-bag or otherwise disposed of.

Theinvention consists, generally,in an alarm mechanism arranged in asuitable casing which is mounted upon a small rod or shaft,by which it may be supported and upon which the casing is adapted to tilt or oscillate, thereby releasing the alarm mechanism and permitting it to be sounded whenever the casing is tilted upon the shaft or the shaft is turned in the casing, and to come back to place and set itself to give another alarm as soon as the casing or shaft is released.

The invention consists, further, in the construction and combination hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. 1

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device, showing connections adapting it for use both as a burglar and fire alarm. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the device applied to a door-knob, so that it will be operated if the knob is turned in either direction. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the alarm mechanism with the outer plate of the casing removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the alarm mechanism, showing the interior arrangement of the parts. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the hinge-supporting shaft folded back upon the casing, adapting it for being packed away ina small compass. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation showing the means for attaching wires or rods which may be connected with windows or doors to operate the alarm while it is supported upon a doork'nob.f Fig. 7 is a detail view of the fire-alarm con nectingdevice. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the indicating device connected with the tire The that when the otherpart is removed the mechanism is exposed, as shown in Fig. 3. The alarm mechanism consists, preferably, of a suitable hell or gong, 3, and hammer 5, a

spring, 7, spring-shaft 9, a gear-wheel, 11, upon the shaft, meshing with a pinion, 13, upon a shaft, 15, and an escapement-wheel, 17, which operates the verge 19 upon the rod of the hammer 5. These parts are of ordinary construction and arrangement, and may be varied at will without departing from my invention.

Arranged preferably near the upper end or the casing is a rod or shaft, 21, which forms a support for the casing, upon which it is free to swing in either direction. A releasing device" is arranged between this shaft and the mechanism of the alarm, so that the alarm will be released when the casing is swung in either direction upon the shaft or the shaft is turned in either direction in the casing.

The releasing device that I prefer to use is arranged as follows: A disk, 23, is arranged upon the shaft 9, being mounted loosely thereon and provided with a pawl, 25, that engages a ratchet-wheel, 27, fixed upon the shaft9. By

means of a spring, 29, the pawl 25 is held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel 27. The

shaft is thus permitted to turn within the disk 23 in onedirection for the purpose of winding the spring, but cannot turn in the other direction without the disk is turned also. A notch, 31, is formed in, the edge of the disk. Iprebutmore may be used, if preferred. A slide,

33, which is preferably u :shaped and extends ,on both sides of theshaft 21, is arranged to for to provide the disk with but asinglenotch;

slide in a suitablesupport, 35, and hassecured to it a detent, 37, adapted to engage the notch 31 in the disk 23. A spring, 39, is arranged to hold the slide 33 against the edge of the disk and to cause the detent 37 to drop into the notch in the disk when the disk turns into a position that will bring the notch beneath the detent. The slide 33 is also provided with the projections 45, and the shaft 21 is provided with the projecting arms 47, that extend beneath the projection 45. It will be seen that with this construction and arrangement the alarm mechanism is held by the engagement of the detent upon the slide with the notched disk 23, and that when the casing is swung to either side from a perpendicular position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, or the shaft 21 is turned in either direction while the easing remains stationary, the slide will be raised and the alarm mechanism released, and that the alarm will be sounded until the position of the parts is restored and until the detent on -the slide comes into engagement with the notch in the disk 23.

The alarm is adapted to be tilted by means of wires or cords connected with doors or windows in any suitable manner, so that when any one of them i's opened the casing will be moved from its perpendicular position and the alarm mechanism will be released. The casing may at the same time be supported upon the door-knob, as shown in Fig. 2, so that if the knob is turned the shaft 21 will also be turned on its axis and the alarm mechanism will be released. The outer end of the shaft 21 is con nected to a short bar, 51, preferably by a hinged joint, 53, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5.

When the alarm is not in use, the bar 51 may be folded back on the top of the casing, as shown in Fig. 5, in order to allow the device to be packed in as small a compass as possible. By means of a suitable clamp the alarm may be secured upon a door-knob, as shown in Fig. 2. I have shown in Figs. 2 and 10 a clamp by which this may be done. It consists, preferably, of two pieces of metal hinged together and adapted to clasp around the shank of the door-knob and to be secured by means of a screw, 57, as shown. The clamp is also provided with a recess, 59, into which the end of the bar 51 may be inserted. By this means the alarm may be connected to any ordinary door, and may be removed quickly by loosening the screw 57 in the clamp. I also in some instances prefer to provide the casinglwith a bar, 61, which is pivoted upon one side thereof, as shown in Fig. 6, and is adapted to be turned down in the position shown in dotted lines in the same figure. The bar 61 is provided with a series of holes or suitable means by which wires or cords 63 may be connected with the bar. These cords or wires may be arranged in any suitable manner to connect with the'doors or windows of the house in which the device is used, so that when any door or window with which the wires are connected is opened the wire will draw upon the bar 61, turning the casing upon its pivotal support and releasing the alarm mechanism,-in the manner already described. These holes upon the bar 61 may be numbered consecutively, as indicated in Fig. 6, so that by observing the number of the wire which is drawn taut the window or door by which the device has been operated may be known.

The casing may be supported upon a doorknob, and at the same time be connected by wires or cords with the other doors and windows of the house.

In some instancsthe casing may be provided with the bar 61 projecting from the top, and also a bar 61 projecting from the bottom, as shown in Fig. 1; or these two bars may be formed in one piece secured to the casing, projecting above the top and below the bottom. Wires 63 are connected to both of these bars, and they may be numbered consecutively, as shown in Fig. 1. The bar 51 may be turned up to a vertical position and secured to the walls or other supports by means of .a screw passed through the hole in the bar, as shown in Fig. 1.

In some instances I prefer to provide for use with this alarm a device that will cause it to be operated in case of fire, thus making it an automatic fire-alarm. The preferable arrangement of this device I have shown in Figs. 1, 8, and 9.

In Fig. 1, 65 represents a rod having a suitable hook upon its end adapted to engage the bar 61. Aspring,-67, is arranged in connection with the bar 65,and is adapted to throw it back into position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the bar is in the position shown by the full 1ine,the spring is compressed andis under considerable tension. The bar is provided with a notch, 69, which is engaged by the end of a lever, 71, preferably above the bar and extending lengthwise thereof. A series of transverse levers, 73, are pivoted independently of each other and extend across and above the lever 71. Springs 75 are arranged over the levers 73, and are adapted to throw those levers downward upon the lever 71,throwing its outer end out of engagement with the notch 69, and permitting the spring 67 to retract the bar 65 and operate the alarm. To each of the levers 73 is connected a cord, 77, which may be extended and arranged in any suitable manner in any part of the building in which the device is located. Should a fire occur in the building,one or more of these cords would probably be burned off, and the lever 73 held by such cord would be released and would be thrown downward by its spring, disengaging the stop holding the bar 65, and permitting the alarm mechanism to be operated. If preferred, a series of plates, 81, may be pivoted above the levers 73 and provided with numbers indicating the different cords. Each of the cords may be connected to one of these plates at one edge thereof, so that when the lever 73 is released the plate will be thrown into perpendicular position, as shown in Fig. 9, and

the number thereon will be exposed, indicating the room where the fire has occurred. The larger part of the bar 65, together with the lever 73 and their springs, and the lever 71, are preferably inclosed in a suitable casing, 83.

I have-shown in Fig. 11 a preferable arrangement of the cords of the fire-signal and the wires or cords of the burglar-alarm in a portion of a single room. One of the cords 77 of the fire.signal-operating device is shown extending around the room, being connected by suitable bell crank levers, 78, or other equivalent devices. .Shouldafire occurin any part of the room,this cord will become burned off, and the lever 73 with which it is connected will be released and the alarm operated in the manner already described. The other cords of the fire-signal-operating device may in a similar manner be extended to other parts of the building and arranged in similar. manner to that here shown, so that if a fire occurs in any part of the building the alarm will be operated.

The use of the fire-signal-operating device does not interfere with the use of my alarm as a burglar-alarm,aid I have shown in Fig. 11 an arrangement 0' cords or wires by which the alarm may at the same time be connected with any number of doors, windows, or transoms, so as to be operated if either of them is moved. As here shown, the wires or cords 63, which are connected with the bar 61, are also connected with a door, 80, a transom, 82, a lower window-sash, 84, and an upper sash, 86. Where it is necessary to pass'the cords around any object, as a door or window, suitable bell-crank levers, 88, or other equivalent devices may be used.

The cords or wires are connected with the doors or windows, so that when any one of them is moved the cord connected with it will be drawn and will tilt the casing of the alarm upon its axis. The cords or Wires may be connected with the windows when they are closed, as shown at the right hand in Fig. 11, or when one or both of the sash are open, as shown at the left hand in Fig. 11. With this arrangement, if either of the sash is moved in either direction, the alarm will be sounded. The

cordsor wires 63 may be extended and connected with any number of doors or windows in any number of rooms in a manner similar to that already described. I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a device of the class described, of an alarm mechanism, a casing inclosing the same, a shaft mounted in bearings in said casing and forming a pivotal support therefor, arms projecting in opposite directions from said shaft, a stop engaging said alarm mechanism, a spring adapted to hold said stop in engagement with said alarm mechanism, and a slide connected with the arms on said shaft and engaging said stop, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a device of the class described, o'fthe alarm mechanism, the casing inclosing the same, a notched disk, 23, the

slide 33,' providedwith the detent adapted to 21, forming a pivotal support for said casing, 1

the releasing device connected with said shaft, the bar 61, secured to said casing, and a series of wires, 63, connected with said r and adapted to be connected with the doors and windows, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination,with the casing 2, of the alarm mechanism inclosed therein, the shaft 21, forming a pivotal support for said casing,

the releasing device connected with said shaft,

the bar 61, projecting from the top and bottom of said casing, and the series of operatingwires-63, connected with said bars, any one of which wires is adapted to be operated independently of the others to turn said casing upon its axis.

5. The combination,with the alarm mounted upoua pivotal support and provided with the projecting bar 61, of the bar 65, adapted to engage with said bar 61, the spring 67, surrounding saidbar 65 and adapted to retract the same, the stop-lever 71, adapted to engage said bar 65, and the series oflevers 73, bearing upon said lever 71, and each provided with the spring and cord 77, all substantially as described. I

6. The combination, with the tilting alarm provided with the projecting bar 61, and the spring-lever 65, adapted to engage therewith, of the stop-lever 71, engaging said lever 65 and holding it against the tension of its spring, the independent spring-levers 73, bearing upon said lever, the cords 77, connected with said levers 73, and'the pivoted plates 81, provided with numbers andconnected with said cords, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' 7. The combination,in afire-signal apparatus, of an alarm mechanism, a casing mounted upon a pivotal support and inclosing said alarm, a spring-actuated bar adapted to engage with said casing and to turn it upon its piv otal support, a stop holding said bar nor-' mally out of engagement with said alarm, a series of releasing devices, any one of which is adapted'to release said step and-permit it to tilt the alarm-casing, and a series of cords IIO connected with said releasing devices,-'whereby 8. The combination, in a fire-signal apparatus, of an alarm, a casing mounted upon a pivotal support and inclosing said alarm, an In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 10 operating-bar connected with said casing and my hand this 1st day of November, 1887. adapted to turn it upon its pivotal support, a

series of cords connected with said operating- JAMES E. CHURCH. 5 bar, and a series of index-plates connected with said cords,whereby when any one of said In presence ofcords is burned off the alarm mechanism is R. H. SANFORD, operated, and the corresponding index device A. 0. PAUL. is also operated, substantially as described. 

